A citizens’ police advisory commission being considered by the County Council would advise the police department on best practices, but it would not investigate specific incidents, said the lead sponsor of the bill that would create the panel.
The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill Tuesday night, which will occur around the same time that social justice groups will be protesting in response to an incident of alleged police brutality that occurred in Aspen Hill last week. Officer Kevin Moris, who was shown in a video kneeing a restrained suspect in the back of the head outside of a restaurant, was placed on “administrative duties” by the police.
Council member Hans Riemer, who is sponsoring the bill, said Monday that unlike civilian advisory panels in Prince George’s County and Baltimore city, the advisory commission would not have the authority to conduct investigations of specific incidents. But he said the Aspen Hill arrest is the type of incident that the commission could use to look broadly at allegations of police brutality or use of force within the department.
“Will the commission be responsive to what’s happening in the community? Absolutely.” he said.
The legislation would create 13 positions on the panel, with nine being appointed by the council and four by the county executive.
Riemer said that the council originally had proposed a nine-member commission, with each council member appointing one committee member. But the council recently met with County Executive Marc Elrich, who asked that he be allowed to appoint an additional four members.
The bill mandates that the commission meet at least six times a year, with members serving three-year terms. Additionally, the commission must submit an annual report to the council and executive on July 1.
Riemer said several other details of the commission have yet to be worked out in the Public Safety Committee.
In addition to the 13 members, the bill also states that the police chief, or a designee of the chief, is to sit on the commission in a non-voting capacity.
Riemer’s bill is the latest in a series of steps the county has taken to reform the police department. Council member Will Jawando, who is a co-sponsor of commission bill, was the lead sponsor of another bill passed in May that mandates the county outsource an independent investigation of any fatal officer-involved shooting to another law enforcement agency.
Riemer said the full council is likely to take up the bill for a vote in September or October.
“My hope is that we’ll get this done by the end of the council session and they’ll vote on it in the fall,” he said.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
